Santa Fe Springs, Calif. - Trench coats, blind drops, and microdots were the tools of the trade for spies. Now days they use satellites, supercomputers and microwaves. All these new tools need electrical power. When the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Washington, DC needed custom switchgear to control the power they came to General Switchgear Inc. (GSI) for a solution.

GSI's Agent in Washington, Mark Shoup of Metro Electrical Associates, sent a request for custom-built switchgear. "When we quoted the project I knew we had a good chance to write the order. GSI is very competitive on custom switchgear", said Todd Ahmadi, GSI's Marketing Manager. "General Switchgear specializes in designing and building electrical distribution equipment for special needs. When your floor space is at a premium and you need the switchgear built around a corner or under a beam give GSI a call", said Howard Preszler, GSI's Operations Manager.

"General Switchgear used the new ABB Emax Power Circuit Breaker in the Metal-Enclosed Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker Switchgear custom designed and built for the DIA", said George Maleki, GSI's Engineering Manager. "ABB's Emax Power Circuit Breaker has just recently been introduced in the US market. GSI's switchgear for the DIA is the first use of the Emax by an OEM", said Cal Hughes, ABB Control, Inc.'s Area Manager.

General Switchgear Inc. has been an OEM of low and medium voltage switchboards and switchgear since 1983. For inquires or quotes, please contact Howard Preszler at 800-652-0118 or email customerservice@generalswitchgear.com.

General Swithchgear Inc. (GSI) of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., made the move from government work to commercial and industrial work three years ago.

The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of electrical power distribution products is now branching into the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain markets.

Iraj Ahmadi, president and CEO of GSI, said he is excited about extending their efforts into this new territory. "I am happy to be able to explore the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain markets," he said.

With various jobs done throughout these territories, GSI believes that they have the ingredients for success.

"We have the capability to deliver electrical equipment in a very short period of time. Our in-house capabilities, coupled with our NC equipment and in-house painting, allow us to build equipment of any size and shape," said Todd Ahmadi, GSI's marketing manager.

Iraj said GSI specializes in working with the customer to complete projects as quickly as possible.

"We want fast delivery and fast turn-around," he said. "We can design and build switchboards in three or four days."

"In an emergency, a customer desperately needed a metering section. We were able to provide him with custom built equipment in two days," Iraj said.

The company also offers field support for their products. "We don't look at it as a one-shot deal," Iraj said. "Our goal is to keep the customer happy."

GSI's emphasis on customer relations began in 1996 when the company changed its focus from government contracts to commercial and industrial customers.

Todd and Iraj explained how government projects GSI did in the past differed from their current work.

"With government jobs, we would get three to four contracts a year and inadvertently neglect other markets." "We soon realized that we had lost touch with our local contacts, distributors and contractors," Iraj said.

GSI implemented a restructuring that would allow it to recapture it's past customer relations and better compete in the civilian market.
Iraj added Todd to head up marketing, while Howard Preszler was appointed Operations Manager, George Maleki Engineering Manager, James Doherty Project Manager, and Adam Foley recently hired as Purchasing Manager.

"The efforts, dedication, and teamwork of all my employees is the reason for our renewed success. I am extremely fortunate to have these individuals working for the company," Iraj said.

GSI also invested in a web page (www.generalswitchgear.com). Todd said the site was started about a year and a half ago and the "hits," or visits to the page, have increased ten-fold.

"We needed a greater company and product awareness and utilized the Internet as a tool to meet this objective," Todd said.

Located in Southern California since 1983, General Switchgear manufactures a wide variety of custom built electrical power products. From medium and low voltage switchgear and switchboards to utility metering switchgear sections and retrofit circuit breakers, GSI can build equipment to meet virtually any requirement. For additional information, please contact Howard Preszler at (562) 921-0605. For outside Southern California, call (800) 652-0118 or e-mail customerservice@generalswitchgear.com.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. -Hollywood goes to General Switchgear Inc. (GSI) with their immediate needs for non-conventional electrical power equipment. Henry Rosales and Paul Reiman of Hollywood Center Studios and Mark Bauserman of Paramount Pictures Studios looked to General Switchgear Inc. to deliver.

"General Switchgear Inc. saved us money by designing and building Bull Switches using our own existing breakers. They also recently provided SASCO (Electrical Contractor) with twelve Bull switches for two state-of-the-art sound stages (stages 10 & 11) that we are building," said Henry Rosales, Department Head for Hollywood Center Studios.

"I have called on GSI recently and in the past. They delivered quality equipment back then and they still do today," said Paul Reiman, Foreman for Hollywood Center Studios.

In addition to Hollywood Center Studios, Paramount Pictures Studios has also sought the assistance of GSI on many of its' jobs.

"General Switchgear Inc. is fast and accommodating to my special requirements. On short notice, they recently replaced a 225KVA with a 750KVA transformer in the same tight space," said Mark Bauserman, Executive Director of Electrical Engineering for Paramount Pictures Studios.

General Switchgear Inc. is an OEM of low and medium voltage switchboards and switchgear. For inquires or quotes, please contact Howard Preszler at (562) 921-0605.